Ghazal #51, Na'ili d. 1666
From The Ottoman Lyric, pp. 122-123

We are the snake hidden in the staff
in the hand of Moses
Don't believe we are the snake, we are the ant
crushed beneath the foot

Even if we are reflected in the mirror
before the face of intellect
It cannot see us, we are hidden
within its proud gaze

Our place of refuge is in the wild eye
of Mejnun
We are the charm of beauty, hidden
in the cheek of Leyla

Even were it diamonds, it would not serve us
as a cure
We are the brand of madness, hidden in the black
center of the heart

Moses couldn't see us on Mount Sinai,
nor in the flaming bush
We are hidden in the shine of God's radiant face

We are the sickness, our health is an addict
of our suffering
We are love, hidden in the secret house
of passion

We are the changing want in the hand
of the trickster of the turning skies
every moment we are hidden in a thousand
watching eyes

Oh Na'ili, with our poems we are magicians
of the image
We are visible in our words, but hidden deep
in the heart of meaning.